To most South-Africans they are known as the “Black Death, but to 13-year-old Luke Michaelides, two wild African Buffalos have become his best friends. The African Buffalo is one of the “big five” African species credited with killing over 200 people every year, in South Africa alone. Some specimens grow up to 6 feet tall and 11 feet long, and can weigh up to 1,350 kg. They can easily rip apart a full grown man, let alone a 13-year-old, but that hasn’t stop Luke from becoming friends with “Hop-a-long” and her offspring “Skip-a-long”.
Their incredible friendship started developing at the turn of the year, when Luke saw the two buffaloes looking all sad and alone, in the middle of his parents’ farm, in Limpopo. He decided to get a little closer, to keep them company. Aware of the fierce reputation of the “Black Death”, he kept his distance, at first, and spoke to them, calmly. More images after the break...
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